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Foundational movement skills among Chinese children and adolescents during and after the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review

Yu Hin Kong, Chi Ching, Gary Chow

Social Transformations in Chinese Societies

ISSN: 1871-2673

Article publication date: 20 January 2025

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Abstract

Purpose

Multiple infectious control measures, e.g. social distancing, city lockdown and mask-wearing, have been implemented since the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak. Given the bidirectional relationship between foundational movement skills (FoMS) and physical activity (PA), and inadequate PA in Chinese children and adolescents, FoMS tends to decrease during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to systematically review the literature about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on FoMS of individuals aged 5–17 years in Chinese societies.

Design/methodology/approach

Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses was followed. Peer-reviewed articles on four electronic databases (Scopus, Web of Science, EBSCOhost and PubMed) were searched on 8 May 2024. The quality of each study was evaluated by the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) version 2018. Two independent reviewers were involved in all study selection and appraising procedures.

Findings

Among 18,450 records identified, 10 quantitative studies analysing student participants were included. The overall quality of these studies was high, with an average score of 86% in MMAT. The variations among these studies led to inconclusive evaluations. So as to advance the quality of future research and assessments, investigating more aspects of FoMS, standardising physical test protocols and report styles and adopting multiple research designs should be achieved.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first review synthesising evidence about FoMS for Chinese children and adolescents. A definitive conclusion cannot be provided due to certain methodological issues. The current situation of FoMS and future research directions were illustrated.

Keywords

Citation

Kong, Y.H. and Chow, C.C.G. (2025), "Foundational movement skills among Chinese children and adolescents during and after the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review", Social Transformations in Chinese Societies, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/STICS-06-2024-0005

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2025, Emerald Publishing Limited

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